"P.Sørensen" <psi@vestnet.dk> skrev i en meddelelse
news:3d40e242$0$26762$edfadb0f@dspool01.news.tele.dk...
> Hej Frank,
> kunne du give os lidt detaljer, som f.eks. hvilke flybilletter, hvilke
> hoteller osv.??
> Preben
En ordentlig smøre, håber at du kan bruge det?
MvH Steen
Lamai Beach
Of all the places, in the World, that I know the one I have come to enjoy
most is Lamai, on the Island of Samui. The reason is really very simple.
Lamai is a beach resort with good nightlife. I like to relax by day and play
by night. It is still small enough to have that quintessential small town
feel, and big enough to steer clear of those you want to avoid. Samui has
its problems, the main one being that it is growing and growing. But that is
inevitable; however its geographical location will almost certainly limit
the growth. The place reminds me of Patpong, on Phuket Island, some fifteen
years ago.
Samui is strong on bars and weak on restaurants. For a restaurant critic it
is almost a gastro free zone.
But things are getting better with the arrival of El Dorado (just off the
central crossroads) run by a couple friendly Swedes. Then there is the Sun
Splash Restaurant on the beach at North end. It does not look very
impressive but the Italian owner knows what good food is. The service can be
awry but what the hell, tits. I have no doubt the high street restaurants
will feel I am being unfair. But they are all very much of a much ness
..Lamai Food market offers some good basic Thai and Indian food. I always
enjoy Pahokee's stall, named after the friendly owner. Her name is shortened
to Pha not Phak, as she keeps pointing out! None of the above would make for
a full on Bonk lunch; they would probably run out of wine! But I have had
some pleasant sessions with the old boy at the Sun splash where the view can
be quite stunning. On the bar front there is a wide range of options. Ex-pat
central seems to revolve around Red Fox too (up a Soi beside the Rising Sun)
run by Allan, who has been around for a number of years, and relative
newcomer Tex, who has Splash bar in the Lamia Night plaza. The Rising Sun is
run by the frenetic Penney, but fortunately managed by a calmer Ausie called
Tom. It has a good following of both drinkers and diners. Dick who runs the
Roadhouse Bar (Lamia Night Plaza) plays music that any rock lover will go
along way to find. He is an ex disc jockey from the 60's and 70's (like
someone else) and really knows his stuff. I have spent happy hours with him
comparing early Rolling Stones numbers and other such trivia.
The Bikers and Rockers pub, also on the main street, is a live music venue
that is normally both lively and full. It was here that I once saw a one
legged man trying to imitate Mick Jagger, whilst singing Honky Tonk Women.
The other main set on bar beers, other than Lamai night Plaza, has a boxing
ring in the middle. But the boxing is not what you would expect. This is the
lady boxing venue.
Lady boxing should takes place every fortnight, normally on a Monday. On
these nights there is large crowd and a great atmosphere. All the bars have
to produce a fighter.
When I first saw this it was more wrestling than boxing, but now the girls
seem to be learning to box.
I am not sure how good this is for the girls. Somebody lost a tooth recently
and I certainly saw some real kicks and punches going home. In this Soi
there is the World bar, which has long been my place of solace in the
evenings. The bar is owned by the always charming Eyed, who is married to
Scotsman Jim Brown. Jim is great drinking companion. You can buy him drinks
all night!
Of course, once the bars close, there is the Bauhaus. This is the final call
for those who have nobody to go home with. An assorted crowd mingles freely
with the local dogs. Too many Chang beers and I can be found on the dance
floor. This house and garage stuff is easy for an old rocker like me! I just
hope nobody has video! Normally I hire a car for a couple of days, just to
get a change of scenery or visit the international ATMs in Nathon. The
interior of the island is mountainous and the only time I tried to seriously
investigate I got hopelessly lost and was very pleased I had a 4 wheel drive
to get me out of there. The map was not exactly helpful! However a trip to
Thong Krut bay and the Thong Krut Fishing lodge is always worthwhile. Lunch
overlooking this shallow, un spoilt bay is a memory that will linger. In the
opposite direction, Bop hut is a small resort that has a pier for boats
going out to the islands. Last time I sat in the Café del Mar, right by the
pier, and enjoyed the view. There also seems to be a couple of decent
looking restaurants down the road. I will report at later date. So that's my
favorite place. It does not mean I dislike the rest, on the contrary. And I
must admit that after 4 or 5 weeks Lamai does lack a certain jet new says
quoi! But then so do most places!
Mediterranean Samui
Visitors to Thailand are warned to take precautions against all manner of
dreaded lurgys, from tropical fevers to dastardly viruses. However, for
those spending the last week in Samui, avoiding trench foot was a priority.
In addition two days of avoiding the rain, whilst the police rigorously
enforced strange licensing hours, was all too reminiscent of long ago holes.
In Devon, without the benefit of an amusements arcade anywhere. I decamped
from Lamai to Chaweng fearing the worst, my mood not helped by the site of a
near flooded Chaweng high street. However after 24 hours the rain stopped
and, much to my surprise, I began to enjoy myself! Chaweng, unlike any other
Thai resort, has managed to achieve a positively European aura. The high
street is littered with modern shop fronts and visually dominated by
falangs. The epicenter of Chaweng is the beach. There is a small reef close
inshore which creates a smooth, shallow bathing area protected from the
dreaded jet skis. Most of the resorts are located with their entrance on the
high street and their restaurant on the beach. This makes for a hospitable
beach where bars and restaurants are a plenty. Thus making Chaweng my ideal
beach. I trundled along the firm sand until I found the Italian owned Da
Papa Restaurant (Samui Coral Resort). A scan of the menu and I flopped into
a chair, on the beach, shaded by a couple of large trees. My demand for a
wine list was less successful. No wine list, I was assured. "I do not
believe an Italian restaurant does not have wine list!" I countered. "We
have wine, no list. You want to look at wine? We show." "Take me to your
wine list," I demanded as I un-flopped." No, no. No have wine list," etc. I
found the fridge.
I relaxed with my bottle and surveyed the scene. The blue tinged hills, to
the side, and the cosmopolitan collection on the beach gave a Mediterranean
feel. The view was San Trop, the rest, I fear, Tosca Del Mar. The food was
disappointing. It was probably my fault for ordering Taleteller Arogosta,
the lobster seemed to be minced. Then, just to add insult to minced lobster,
they had no Tiramisu! In any event the scene more than made up for the
culinary shortcomings. I shall go back. As the sun retreated for the day,
the beach became a place of play. Some restaurants lay out mats and head
rests, for those so inclined, to lie and watch the sunset, or after dark the
surf on the reef.
In front of the Ark Bar a lively game of beach volleyball was underway.
Since the Brazilian ladies team in the Olympics certainly had the esthetic
edge, I wandered into the bar. The Ark is run by an Aussi called Croc (he
even has one on the bar back to prove it.). We chatted about this and that,
as I hoovered up a few large spirits at B100 each, until it was truly dark.
I then caterpillered back down the beach, past a succession of restaurants
preparing for the night's trade, to my digs at the Montien House. If the
beach is the centre by day, the Blue Mango Soi takes over by night. This soi
is about theme bars, and at the bottom there is a theme barrow. The
clientele is generally young, tattooed and there is a genuine mix of sexes.
There is a strong religious trend, in bar names, beginning with the barrow
serving Buddha's Burritos. Then there is the Blessing bar, which is next
door to Heaven. Heaven is highly recommended, not just for the assorted
angles, but because it is the only chance most us will ever get to go there!
Also in this Soi is Fawlty Towers. It occurred to me that the archetypal
Englishman used to be John Bull, now it seems to be Basil Fawlty. The
emphasis here is on pub grub and round ball football. If you are allergic to
football it is worth noting that, if there is any soccer on the telly, it is
difficult to avoid, almost anywhere, in this area. Then as the soi reaches
the Green Mango the bars depend more and more on music to attract, forcing
communications to switch to text messages, or failing that, sign language.
The one escape is the Catcando bar, which is enclosed and, not only has
quieter music, but the odd wiff of aircon. The top of the soi bends round to
the parallel soi (apparently with no name). This soi has a collection of
open bar beer, that do not seem to do that well despite amps of volume and
many calling birds. The Frog & Gecko pub is opposite these bars.
An American couple, Graham and Raphaela run this friendly bar. Raphaele is
usually behind the bar and will bring you up to speed on all the latest
gossip, otherwise it is a good refuge in this otherwise tempestuous area.
Also, in this no name soi, is the only gogo in town, called the GB lounge. I
presume GB stands for Got u by the Bollocks, because the prices are the
dearest bar prices in Thailand (B100 for a Carlsberg) and the girls just
about the ugliest. So that leaves the Green Mango disco itself. This is
another of those massive barn like places with a smashing beat from the
sound system, flashing lights a plenty and what seems to be a totally
redundant large screen showing sport. I hip hopped in and grabbed a beer to
watch the action. My companion suggested the dance floor, "exercise," she
kept saying. "Later" I kept suggesting. But in the end she won. So another
dance floor has seen my sixties version of the trance! Yeah so I am enjoying
myself in Chaweng. It is unlike any other place, I know, in Thailand, but
there is nothing wrong with that! So when you feel like a bit of fun in the
Med. take a plane to Chaweng. Me! I'm off for another of those Italian
lunches followed by several large ones with Crock before a schmoose up Soi
Blue Mango. I will drop into heaven, just to see the angles, but I will not
dally. I hope! I have certainly had worse days to look forward Chaweng Beach
has a cheerless reputation as an over-developed package tourist resort that
is unlike any other in Thailand. The narrow main road seems to go on
forever, especially when you are stuck behind a cruising tuk tuk and
surrounded by buzzing impatient motorbikes
However, being in the hands of the tour operators does at least mean that
tourism is fairly constant. While hotel and bar owners in other resorts
complain about a lack of visitors, Chaweng still has an ungodly mass on the
streets at night Bars and restaurants extend all the way down the
constricted artery that is the town's main street. And given the length of
it it's hard to believe there's enough business for them all. However, the
Green Mango soi area is the were the real action happens.
To the North of the soi is the popular Islander which is mainly a restaurant
but also has a good bar. Next door is Legends which is essentially just a
bar.
I say 'just a bar' because I would have expected a food operation in this
location. Nevertheless, it was reasonably busy so I trundled in.
The décor focuses on pictures of film and pop stars, and the drinks menu is
heavily geared towards cocktails. The back of the it though is dedicated to
more traditional drinks, particularly beer and there is a supportive quote
by Louis Pasteur which reads: "Alcohol is the most hygienic of beverages."
After a long dissertation on the benefits of beer there is quote from the
BMA (British Medical Association) saying: "Beer is beneficial for human
health, and the mishap resulting from over-indulgence is no reason to brand
it as inimical to our well-being." You see, I knew I never had a hangover,
it was a mishap!
Soi Green Mango has an important new development, opposite Fawlty Towers, in
the guise of a 'real' gogo. This purpose-built operation will be run by
Graham who also has the sole Samui gogo, the GB lounge. Assuming the master
plan is implemented his new place, as yet unnamed, will be streets ahead of
the GB.
The interior will feature two levels with a glass floor in between. By the
sounds of things Graham has spent to much time staring upwards in Baccara
and Dollhouse and his ideas for dancers' attire is in tune with those he
seeks to imitate
Builders struggling with the concept of glass floors and revolving stages,
coupled with the authorities' inability to decide which names are allowed
and which are not have inevitably led to delays. However, despite the
headaches, Graham reckons he will be up and running in September.
Further up this soi are the premises formerly occupied by the Big Whiskey
bar. Those who view whiskey as the source of all that's evil will not be
surprised to hear that the place is now called Hell.
I had a couple of drinks there the other night. I would have been put off by
heavy, bearded, beer-gutted, six-foot tall girls in badly fitting frocks
had I not been told that the rugger buggers who owned it were having
some kind of party.
Thankfully I was too early for the real fun, but looking at the place there
were some nice touches and if the cross-dressing owners can maintain their
sense of humour they will undoubtedly do well.
Interestingly, Hell is only two up from Heaven and in between is a Blessing.
It is strange how these things happen but Chaweng has always struck me as
very much a round ball place. But just as Hell has been taken over by
football players (oval ball), another football player (oval ball) has
appeared just around the corner, opposite the GB lounge.
Ex-professional rugby league player Chris has opened a bar called
Wigan Pier. He seems an all round good sort, especially for "that"
discipline, who played for a number of top clubs before injury forced him
out. He is now in Chaweng for the quite life.
"Expect different injuries Chris: to your liver and bank balance!" would be
my advice. Anyway, just to make certain we all know Chris's preference in
life the pub sign is in the shape of a football (no not round) and soon the
bar will sport a set of goal posts (for kicking over) on the roof.
It will be interesting to see how Chris does in this soccer mad soi. At
least he is big enough to bounce any hooligans around the place before
spitting them out>
Next door to the GB lounge, on the main street side, Ben rules at Britannia.
Ben is pleasant young man, so God knows what he is doing running a bar in
Chaweng. At his age he should be commuting to work, getting pissed in All
Bar Ones and enjoying a good "dyno rod" every Friday.
Anyway he has chosen the hard life. Although he has not worked that out yet!
I wish him well and it is a change to have a nice young chap running a bar.
I was thinking of getting my ear bent by the irrepressible Raphael at the
Frog and Gecko. However, when I trundled past I found it closed, with a sign
saying this was because of colonic irrigation.
Unfortunately it didn't make it clear if the procedure related to the bar or
its owner. I was hopeful!
Feeling peckish by this time I decided to try out another of the multitude
of small restaurants on the water front at Bophut, or Fisherman's Village if
you prefer the re-branding. I really do like this development as it is one
of the few remaining old parts of Samui. Also, as most of the businesses
there are on the beach side of the main road they have a near perfect view
out over the bay and across to the islands of Phangan and, on a clear day,
Tao.
Mediterranean Samui
Visitors to Thailand are warned to take precautions against all manner of
dreaded lurgys, from tropical fevers to dastardly viruses. However, for
those spending the last week in Samui, avoiding trench foot was a priority.
In addition two days of avoiding the rain, whilst the police rigorously
enforced strange licensing hours, was all too reminiscent of long ago hols.
in Devon, without the benefit of an amusement arcade anywhere. I decamped
from Lamai to Chaweng fearing the worst, my mood not helped by the site of a
near flooded Chaweng high street. However after 24 hours the rain stopped
and, much to my surprise, I began to enjoy myself!Chaweng, unlike any other
Thai resort, has managed to achieve a positively European aura. The high
street is littered with modern shop fronts and visually dominated by
falangs. The epicenter of Chaweng is the beach. There is a small reef close
inshore which creates a smooth, shallow bathing area protected from the
dreaded jet skis. Most of the resorts are located with their entrance on the
high street and their restaurant on the beach. This makes for a hospitable
beach where bars and restaurants are a plenty. Thus making Chaweng my ideal
beach. I trundled along the firm sand until I found the Italian owned Da
Papa Restaurant (Samui Coral Resort). A scan of the menu and I flopped into
a chair, on the beach, shaded by a couple of large trees. My demand for a
wine list was less successful. No wine list, I was assured. "I do not
believe an Italian restaurant does not have wine list!" I countered.
"We have wine, no list. You want to look at wine? We show."
"Take me to your wine list," I demanded as I un-flopped.
"No, no. No have wine list," etc. I found the fridge.
I relaxed with my bottle and surveyed the scene. The blue tinged hills, to
the side, and the cosmopolitan collection on the beach gave a Mediterranean
feel. The view was San Trop, the rest, I fear, Tossa Del Mar. The food was
disappointing.
It was probably my fault for ordering Tagliatelle Arogosta, the lobster
seemed to be minced. Then, just to add insult to minced lobster, they had no
Tiramisu! In any event the scene more than made up for the culinary
shortcomings. I shall go back. As the sun retreated for the day, the beach
became a place of play. Some restaurants lay out mats and head rests, for
those so inclined, to lie and watch the sunset, or after dark the surf on
the reef.
In front of the Ark Bar a lively game of beach volleyball was underway.
Since the Brazilian ladies team in the Olympics certainly had the esthetic
edge, I wandered into the bar. The Ark is run by an Aussi called Croc (he
even has one on the bar back to prove it.).
We chatted about this and that, as I hoovered up a few large spirits at B100
each, until it was truly dark. I then caterpillered back down the beach,
past a succession of restaurants preparing for the night's trade, to my digs
at the Montien House. If the beach is the centre by day, the Blue Mango Soi
takes over by night. This soi is about theme bars, and at the bottom there
is a theme barrow. The clientele is generally young, tattooed and there is a
genuine mix of sexes. There is a strong religious trend, in bar names,
beginning with the barrow serving Buddha's Burritos. Then there is the
Blessing bar, which is next door to Heaven. Heaven is highly recommended,
not just for the assorted angles, but because it is the only chance most us
will ever get to go there! Also in this Soi is Fawlty Towers. It occurred to
me that the archetypal Englishman used to be John Bull, now it seems to be
Basil Fawlty.
The emphasis here is on pub grub and round ball football. If you are
allergic to football it is worth noting that, if there is any soccer on the
telly, it is difficult to avoid, almost anywhere, in this area.
Then as the soi reaches the Green Mango the bars depend more and more on
music to attract, forcing communications to switch to text messages, or
failing that, sign language. The one escape is the Catcando bar, which is
enclosed and, not only has quieter music, but the odd wiff of aircon.
The top of the soi bends round to the parallel soi (apparently with no
name). This soi has a collection of open bar beer, that do not seem to do
that well despite amps of volume and many calling birds. The Frog & Gecko
pub is opposite these bars.
An American couple, Graham and Raphaela run this friendly bar. Raphaele is
usually behind the bar and will bring you up to speed on all the latest
gossip, otherwise it is a good refuge in this otherwise tempestuous area.
Also, in this no name soi, is the only gogo in town, called the GB lounge. I
presume GB stands for Got u by the Bollocks, because the prices are the
dearest bar prices in Thailand (B100 for a Carlsberg) and the girls just
about the ugliest. So that leaves the Green Mango disco itself. This is
another of those massive barn like places with a smashing beat from the
sound system, flashing lights a plenty and what seems to be a totally
redundant large screen showing sport. I hip hopped in and grabbed a beer to
watch the action. My companion suggested the dance floor, "exercise," she
kept saying. "Later" I kept suggesting. But in the end she won. So another
dance floor has seen my sixties version of the trance! Yeah so I am enjoying
myself in Chaweng. It is unlike any other place, I know, in Thailand, but
there is nothing wrong with that! So when you feel like a bit of fun in the
Med. take a plane to Chaweng. Me! I'm off for another of those Italian
lunches followed by several large ones with Crock before a schmoose up Soi
Blue Mango. I will drop into heaven, just to see the angles, but I will not
dally. I hope! I have certainly had worse days to look forward to than that!
>
>